We have all heard the expression, “putting your best face forward.” There is no better place to apply this age-old saying than your front entryway. Because the face of any home or building lies within the entry, it gives off the first impression and requires the utmost care and grooming from a designer. There are hundreds of different styles and features that can go into constructing the perfect entryway, but most importantly it needs to reflect the style of the rest of the home. The front door should be recognizable as the entrance to a home, but it’s best to keep things simple. Gaudy detailing on entablatures or excessive embellishments on columns and pilasters can distract from a home’s overall style and cause the entrance to appear messy or disorganized. Here are some tips and tricks to designing an inviting, stylish and practical entry way.
Tips & Tricks:
- Transoms should always use vertical lights–horizontal lights can appear squashed.
- Entablature should align with the front and side of the pilasters/columns.
- Entablature height should be proportional to the diameter of the neck of the pilaster (1:2).
- Avoid gratuitous ornament; when in doubt go with something simple and stylistically relevant.
- Casing should be 5-6 inches wide on a standard-sized door.
- Do not use brickmold on a house that has exterior siding.
- Avoid alternatives to the correct pediment design. If you can’t afford the proper materials and design, it is better to leave the pediment out.
- The neck of the pilaster should be dropped slightly, but no more than the neck’s width.
